Problems playing DVD movies

CedarCreekWoody · 12-04-2016, 06:04 PM

My travel trailer has a Magnadyne radio/DVD player, model RV4500. During movie playback I frequently have them freeze. Sometimes I can jump to the next chapter and continue, sometimes not. I've tried cleaning the DVD and blowing out dust on the read head, usually with no improvement. The same DVD plays just fine on my home units. Any suggestions?

Stealth FQ2916 · 12-04-2016, 06:22 PM

Might try a cotton swab with a little rubbing alcohol on the laser lens. They also make kits for cleaning cd/dvd drives.

I've had the most luck with the rubbing alcohol.

CedarCreekWoody · 12-04-2016, 06:43 PM

Thanks, I will give that a try if I can get to the lens.

**Herk7769** · 12-05-2016, 07:24 AM

I found that humidity can have an effect on playing DVDs in the camper.

Try leaving it on for an hour so the heat can dry out any condensation on the laser head.

Depending on where your DVD player is located (mine is on the rear wall and the DVD has failed on both the OEM and its replacement), I also think vibration over time can knock it slowly out of alignment. There is no fix for this and I hope this is not that cause of your skip.

I have now switched completely to MP4 movies and TV shows and use a solid state NUC to serve up the movies to the surround sound system. I connected the NUC HDMI to an HDMI input on the TV, and use the digital fiber optic output on the TV to go to the fiber optic input on my Concertone 3.0 audio system.

I have had no luck accessing the laser head for cleaning in either RV system. You are more likely to damage the transport mechanism poking around with a Q-tip. Some home style units can be taken apart easily; others are sealed so a home owner can't open them.

Here is my solution:

https://www.neweggbusiness.com/Produ...FQxMDQodV0cCoQ

A typical 2 hour movie takes about 1 gigabyte of space so if your collection is large or growing you may want a larger storage device than a memory stick.

You can fit about 4000 movies on one of these:

https://www.neweggbusiness.com/produ...=9B-22-178-817

I use this program to convert my OWNED DVDs to digital format:

http://www.dvdfab.cn/dvd-ripper.htm?...D=productspage

It is perfectly legal to back up your DVD collection to a digital format so long as you own the originals and do not play both formats at the same time. Obviously, giving away or selling your digital version would be a crime in the USA (and most other countries) unless you also transferred the original DVD.

camaraderie · 12-05-2016, 08:15 PM

Here's a lens cleaner from Best Buy that is a lot safer than a cotton swab.
Philips Laser Lens Cleaner Gray SVC2341/27 - Best Buy

I second the advice to turn on the disc player and leave it running for 1/2 hour or so to purge any moisture which can happen with glass and temperature differences!
Since it IS playing sometimes... and the play units are cheap...it may be the mechanism itself that is hanging up. You can get a standalone DVD for $29 bucks these days...so it ain't worth investing a lot if a simple cleaning doesn't do the trick.

CedarCreekWoody · 12-05-2016, 08:25 PM

Have you used the cleaner from Best Buy? There are no user reviews. How does it work! It appears to be another DVD.

camaraderie · 12-05-2016, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

Have you used the cleaner from Best Buy? There are no user reviews. How does it work! It appears to be another DVD.

No I don't have one but there are lots similar on the market that I have used in the past. This one just inserts like a regular CD or DVD and it has TWO brushes that are microfiber DRY that polish the lens surface automatically then also give you a 5.1 sound check as well if you have Dolby surround.
It may not help at all...or it may do just what you need. Handy to have around in any case. The main thing I'd stress is that whatever you use CANNOT shed fibers or you can create more problems than it can solve.
If after you use dry... you get no results. Get a small bottle from the drugstore of the purest (less water) isopropyl alchohol they carry and put a single drop on both brushes. Use it and give it time to evaporate before you try a regular disc again. Worst case ...it doesnt work and you have something you can use to keep your next player ship shape! Good luck

**Herk7769** · 12-05-2016, 09:04 PM

Those DVD cleaners are all variations of the same ineffective scheme (though they are cheap enough to try). They have a small brush embedded that dusts the laser head as the DVD spins.

I have tried several based on the hype, but none worked very well for me.

I used a stand alone Blu-Ray DVD player for a short time till I realized half my camper's payload was albums of DVDs.

camaraderie · 12-05-2016, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Those DVD cleaners are all variations of the same ineffective scheme (though they are cheap enough to try). They have a small brush embedded that dusts the laser head as the DVD spins.

I have tried several based on the hype, but none worked very well for me.

I used a stand alone Blu-Ray DVD player for a short time till I realized half my camper's payload was albums of DVDs.

Herk...I think you're being harsh. If you go to walmart.com they have a number of these cleaners with lots of customer reviews...they generally get around 4 out of 5 stars. Read the comments and you'll see that at least half those reporting get good results. Depends on the problem...but a lot of lens problems do get fixed. The alternative is thowing it out. Worth a try IMO.

CedarCreekWoody · 12-05-2016, 09:59 PM

Thanks for all the advice. I can get a replacement player for a good price but I sure like the convenience of the built in. Not a lot of room in a small TT, but I can make it work if I have to.

**Herk7769** · 12-05-2016, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

Thanks for all the advice. I can get a replacement player for a good price but I sure like the convenience of the built in. Not a lot of room in a small TT, but I can make it work if I have to.

Get a small one and throw it in a drawer till you need it.
This one is just a bit larger than a DVD and has 1080p output on HDMI
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Craig-CVD...ingMethod=p13n

As to the cleaners, I can only go on my experience and I did say they were cheap enough to try.

edcronin01 · 12-06-2016, 11:32 AM

I have the same DVD contact Magnadyne by phone or email they have always helped me with any issues. Good luck.

CedarCreekWoody · 12-06-2016, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Get a small one and throw it in a drawer till you need it.
This one is just a bit larger than a DVD and has 1080p output on HDMI
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Craig-CVD...ingMethod=p13n

As to the cleaners, I can only go on my experience and I did say they were cheap enough to try.

Good points. Thanks.

Togger · 12-06-2016, 07:16 PM

I have exactly the same problem with the DVD player in my 2015 Wildwood DLX. I have written it off to cheap electronics but have not tried to clean it though. I can't see why it would be dirty when it is brand new.

CedarCreekWoody · 12-06-2016, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Togger

I have exactly the same problem with the DVD player in my 2015 Wildwood DLX. I have written it off to cheap electronics but have not tried to clean it though. I can't see why it would be dirty when it is brand new.

Yes, that is pretty much my opinion too.

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